Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Former President Bush asks Obama to exit the car business]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/former-president-bush-asks-obama-to-exit-the-car-business/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/former-president-bush-asks-obama-to-exit-the-car-business/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/former-president-bush-asks-obama-to-exit-the-car-business/#commentsFiled under:



When Former President George W. Bush spoke to the Montreal Board of Trade recently, he made a public appeal to the Obama administration to "get out of the private sector," adding "I hope our government gets out of the autos and the financials in which they have a stake." His premise is that it takes private companies to turn an economy around, not government-run ones.

As we have found out during America's recent economic troubles, a lot of people find it easy to say a lot of things when they're not on the hook. And the former Commander-in-Chief isn't the first (nor the only) ex-President to offer such advice; they've all done it - he's only the most recent. But this is coming from the man whose VP sold him out as giving TARP money to prevent General Motors and Chrysler bankruptcies on his watch. Lest we forget, Bush is also the man who said:
"Well, I have obviously made a decision to make sure the economy doesn't collapse. I've abandoned free market principles to save the free market system. I think when people review what's taken place in the last six months, uh, and put it all in one, in one, (sigh), you know, in one package, they're realize how significantly we have moved."
Forget about politics, it isn't even that what Bush has said is wrong, per se - by most accounts, the American government shouldn't be in the car business nor the retail banking business, and the current administration agrees with that, having said repeatedly it wants to get out of both. But they inherited the issue, and now it's up to them to figure out the best way out of it. Hat tip to Avinash!

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Getty]

Former President Bush asks Obama to exit the car business originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bushchrysler bankruptcyChryslerBankruptcyfinancialsgeneral motors bankruptcyGeneralMotorsBankruptcyGeorge Bushgeorge w bushGeorgeBushGeorgeWBushgovernmentObama administrationObamaAdministrationTARPTARP moneyTarpMoneyMon, 26 Oct 2009 12:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Bush says no bailouts for automakers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/bush-says-no-bailouts-for-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/bush-says-no-bailouts-for-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/16/bush-says-no-bailouts-for-automakers/#commentsFiled under: ,



In the wake of GM's restructuring announcement, some observers are beginning to talk about government assistance to get automakers through tough times. President Bush has quickly shot down the idea of assitance for US automakers, saying that the government shouldn't be "bailing out companies." GM spokesman Greg Martin said the General isn't looking for a free pass from Uncle Sam, instead insisting the company is going to take care of itself.

While it's nice to see GM taking care of its own problems, there really isn't much else the Detroit automaker can say. Admitting that it needs help would be an admission of doom, which would further deplete its stock while signaling to customers that bankruptcy is near. A company in bankruptcy protection can go under, and companies that expire don't (theoretically) honor warranties or have parts available for repair.

As for President Bush's comments, it deserves noting that few industries are subject to more government oversight than the automotive sector, and no industry is more vital to reducing America's reliance on foreign oil.

[Source: Detroit News Photo: Getty/Luke Frazza]

Bush says no bailouts for automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automaker bailoutsAutomakerBailoutsChryslerFordgeorge bushGeorgeBushGMWed, 16 Jul 2008 08:02:00 EST<![CDATA[EPA proposes its own oil regulations]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/27/epa-proposes-its-own-oil-regulations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/27/epa-proposes-its-own-oil-regulations/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/27/epa-proposes-its-own-oil-regulations/#commentsFiled under: ,



The U.S. Congress isn't the only ruling body proposing new measures to curb the nation's reliance on foreign oil. The EPA is currently in the process of writing up new rules that it hopes will limit fuel consumption, and is currently gathering 75 regulators to help implement George Bush's '20-in-10' plan, which would see fuel consumption drop 20% in ten years.

Such a move would have the setting of fuel economy standards move from traditional transportation officials to the environmental regulators, and has only come about because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The EPA has been in charge of regulating auto emissions for years, but this would be the first time its policies would have an effect on the levels of fuel consumption.

Under the stipulations of Bush's original 20-in-10 plan, manufacturers would have to improve the mileage of cars by 4% a year between 2010 and 2017 and the same 4% a year for trucks between 2012 and 2017. As expected, automakers consider such a proposal as being too harsh, citing the fact that cars would have to average 32 mpg in just 10 years ,when today's average is just 24mpg.

[Source: Automotive News - Subs. Req'd]

EPA proposes its own oil regulations originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Aug 2007 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>EPAfuelfuel economyFuelEconomyGeorge BushGeorgeBushMon, 27 Aug 2007 12:31:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Bush's limo breaks down in Rome, Italians giggle and point]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/video-bushs-limo-breaks-down-in-rome-italians-giggle-and-poin/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/video-bushs-limo-breaks-down-in-rome-italians-giggle-and-poin/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/11/video-bushs-limo-breaks-down-in-rome-italians-giggle-and-poin/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Most people just have a spare tire or a can of fix-a-flat and an auto club card when they hit the road. But as we all know, they do things bigger in Texas, so when some guy from Texas goes for a drive around Rome, he brings along a spare stretch armored limo!

As President George Bush and his entourage approached the US Embassy in Rome this weekend, his custom Cadillac DTS limo decided to pack it in. .After attempting to restart, Bush ultimately got out and walked through the embassy gates, later using the backup limo for the rest of his appointments.

The video after the jump shows the crowd's reaction to Bush's limo breaking down, which was comprised mostly of laughter when the driver attempted to restart the car without success. Nevertheless, the President was cheered when he ultimately exited his stage coach and began to hoof it.

[Source: Reuters via OmniAuto.it]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bush's limo breaks down in Rome, Italians giggle and point

VIDEO: Bush's limo breaks down in Rome, Italians giggle and point originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>george bushGeorgeBushlimoromeMon, 11 Jun 2007 12:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Lutz says Bush fuel standards will raise car prices by $5k]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/lutz-says-bush-fuel-standards-will-raise-car-prices-by-5k/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/lutz-says-bush-fuel-standards-will-raise-car-prices-by-5k/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/04/lutz-says-bush-fuel-standards-will-raise-car-prices-by-5k/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

GM Vice Chairman and blogger extraordinaire Bob Lutz used the spotlight of the New York Auto show to talk about the Bush Administration's plan to raise fuel economy standards four-percent per year through 2017. Mr. Lutz placed a tab of $5,000 per vehicle for the fuel economy initiative, which is a heavy price to pay for an OEM in Aerospace, much less the auto industry. Lutz' comments came in response to a recent Supreme Court decision that the EPA has the express right to regulate carbon dioxide emissions.

A Bush administration analysis of the initiative placed an industry cost of $117 billion between 2010 and 2017, with over $40 billion coming from GM alone. The plan, which aims to decrease US oil dependency by 20% by 2017, is focused on several industries, but the car and light truck market could be hit extremely hard. Lutz and other industry leaders are keen to the idea of better-utilizing E85 instead of what Blogger Bob calls an "unaffordable solution". Currently, there are only 1,100 E85-capable gas stations out of 170,000 in the US.

We'd be more than happy to get 20% better fuel economy on our cars, but we probably wouldn't be happy paying an extra $5,000 for it.

[Source: Detroit News]

Lutz says Bush fuel standards will raise car prices by $5k originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 19:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Bob LutzBobLutzFuel economyFuelEconomyGeorge BushGeorgeBushGMWed, 04 Apr 2007 19:34:00 EST<![CDATA[AutoblogGreen for 03.19.07]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/19/autobloggreen-for-03-19-07/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/19/autobloggreen-for-03-19-07/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/19/autobloggreen-for-03-19-07/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



In spite of rule changes meant to negate some of the advantage Audi gained from the superior fuel economy of their turbo-diesel V12, they again dominated the Twelve Hours of Sebring. A Pennsylvania EV advocate is running a DIY workshop on converting your car to run on batteries. Get some information on what tax breaks are available to buyers of hybrid vehicles.

AutoblogGreen for 03.19.07 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dieselelectric vehicle conversionElectricVehicleConversionfuel cellFuelCellGeorge bushGeorgeBushMon, 19 Mar 2007 06:04:00 EST<![CDATA[SOTU: Revised energy strategy includes alt-fuel increases and revised CAFE]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/23/sotu-revised-energy-strategy-includes-alt-fuel-increases-and-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/23/sotu-revised-energy-strategy-includes-alt-fuel-increases-and-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/23/sotu-revised-energy-strategy-includes-alt-fuel-increases-and-re/#commentsFiled under: ,



President Bush will be addressing his first State of the Union to a Democratic-controlled Congress in about a half hour. At that time, many people in the country will be in a bad mood because their favorite TV show on Tuesday night was just preempted. Many will change the channel to watch something on cable, but some will stay to watch the president speak, and energy is one topic that will surely be discussed.

We already know what he's going to talk about because Joel Kaplan, the White House deputy chief of staff (that would be Josh Lyman's position) told us today. The big, bold move Bush will make on energy tonight will be to call for Americans to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent by 2017. A fine idea for sure, though the new Congress will disagree with President Bush on how to achieve the goal.

The administration basically has a two-pronged strategy. The first is a new mandate proposing we increase the amount of alternative fuels blended into the national fuel supply to 35 billion gallons by 2017. These fuels would now also include biodiesel, methanol, butanol and hydrogen, in addition the politically popular ethanol. The second strategy is to further revise Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards by applying the same revisions to mileage standards used recently on trucks to passenger vehicles. This is where the President and the new Democratic-controlled congress will likely butt heads the most. The Dems simply want to raise CAFE standards for passenger vehicles from the current 27.5 miles per gallon, while the administration's sliding scale applies different standards based on a vehicle's footprint or size. It's all very technical and boring, which is what we imagine the SOTU address will be tonight, but we'll watch anyways 'cause the Commander in Chief's gonna talk about cars, and we're always up for some car talk.

Feel free to post your thoughts on the SOTU in the comments, but keep it civil or we'll have to turn the comments off on this post. Thanks.

[Source: AP]

SOTU: Revised energy strategy includes alt-fuel increases and revised CAFE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bushCAFEgeorge bushGeorgeBushpresidentSOTUstate of the unionStateOfTheUnionTue, 23 Jan 2007 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Meeting of the Minds: Big Three and Bush to talk on Tuesday]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/09/meeting-of-the-minds-big-three-and-bush-to-talk-on-tuesday/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/09/meeting-of-the-minds-big-three-and-bush-to-talk-on-tuesday/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/09/meeting-of-the-minds-big-three-and-bush-to-talk-on-tuesday/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bill Ford, Rick Wagoner and Tom LaSorda have been twiddling their thumbs since May waiting for the White House to confirm a date for the Detroit trio to meet with George Bush, the D.C. decider. Tentative times have come and gone, and as each one passed, the perception that the current administration cares little about the challenges facing domestic automakers continued to grow. In reality, those challenges that include health care costs and the price of imported raw materials like steel, just didn't make for good pre-election prattle.

Not a day after the midterm elections have passed, the White House has announced that George Bush will meet with Ford, Wagoner and LaSorda next Tuesday. No additional details were given about what time the meeting would take place or if an agenda of talking points had been set.

Most of us on the Autoblog team are apolitical when it comes to cars, but since the Republicans have lost control over both houses of Congress, we can't help but wonder if Detroit should instead sit down for a chat with someone like N ancy Pelosi (D - CA), the presumptive Speaker of the House, or Harry Reid (D - NV), the soon-to-be leader of the Senate's majority.

BTW - if you'd like to talk politics in the comments, feel free. Keep it civil, though, or we'll be forced to turn the comments off.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

Meeting of the Minds: Big Three and Bush to talk on Tuesday originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Big 3Big3Bill FordBillFordCEOGeorge BushGeorgeBushHarry ReidHarryReidmeetingNancy PelosiNancyPelosiRick WagonerRickWagonerTom LaSordaTomLasordaWhite HouseWhiteHouseThu, 09 Nov 2006 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Guess who's coming to Washington? White House to meet with the Big Two Point Five]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/26/guess-whos-coming-to-washington-white-house-to-meet-with-the-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/26/guess-whos-coming-to-washington-white-house-to-meet-with-the-b/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/26/guess-whos-coming-to-washington-white-house-to-meet-with-the-b/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In the never-ending saga between the Bush administration and Detroit's automakers, a tentative date has finally been set for a meeting.

During a radio interview, President Bush's political advisor Karl Rove confirmed that a discussion between GM, Ford and DaimlerChrysler would take place in mid-November. A specific date was not mentioned, mainly to allow the White House flexibility in it's scheduling.

A sit-down was originally planned in June of this year, with the conversation to center around health-care costs and alternative fuels. GM's Rick Wagoner and others in the industry have made it clear that a 'bailout' is not in the cards.

Related Posts:

[Source: Automotive News (Sub. Req.) and Detroit Free Press]

Guess who's coming to Washington? White House to meet with the Big Two Point Five originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Oct 2006 08:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big two point fiveBigTwoPointFivecarl roveCarlRoveDaimlerChryslerfordgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgeorge bushGeorgeBushgmhealth careHealthCarepresident bushPresidentBushThu, 26 Oct 2006 08:08:00 EST<![CDATA[UAW chief flames Bush for failure to help automakers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/12/uaw-chief-flames-bush-for-failure-to-help-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/12/uaw-chief-flames-bush-for-failure-to-help-automakers/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/12/uaw-chief-flames-bush-for-failure-to-help-automakers/#commentsFiled under:

Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Auto Workers union, took a shot at President Bush Tuesday for his failure to put forward a national industrial policy addressing issues affecting U.S. automakers, ranging from out of control health care costs to Asian monetary policies.

Speaking at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit, Gettelfinger said it was "humiliating" that Bush found time to meet with TV "American Idol" Clay Aiken, but has put off meeting with auto industry executives until after the November election, going on to accuse Bush of "...walking away from the industry that does more for our economy than any other."

[Source: Reuters]

UAW chief flames Bush for failure to help automakers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto industrygeorge bushpresident bushuawTue, 12 Sep 2006 14:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Bush calls Bill Ford]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/10/bush-calls-bill-ford/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/10/bush-calls-bill-ford/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/10/bush-calls-bill-ford/#commentsFiled under: ,

It came as a surprise to read on Bloomberg's website that "the President and Mr. Ford are friends." We don't know why this made us do a double take, but it's nice to know that some form of direct communication is taking place between Washington and an automaker.

According to the article, President Bush phoned Mr. Ford while in route to a fund-raiser in Detroit and although Bush's spokesperson wouldn't elaborate on what was discussed, she did say that the phone conversation only lasted a few minutes. We think it's safe to assume that the topic at hand was FoMoCo's recent personnel changes.

We reported earlier on an uproar among the heads of the Big two-point-five, when they discovered that Bush would be making a campaign appearance in their home town, but had not (re)scheduled any meetings with the automakers. Judging by the information revealed to Bloomberg, the conversation between the two men sought to solidify the administration's promise of a meeting after mid-term elections.

We're eagerly anticipating the outcome of that meeting, if and when it happens.

Related Links:
(FYI - Due to the unfortunate comments made by some readers in a related post, comments have been disabled for this article. Our apologies to those of you that enjoy a civil exchange of ideas.)

Bush calls Bill Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill fordBillFordgeorge bushGeorgeBushSun, 10 Sep 2006 18:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Iacocca to pen new book, address auto industry]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/09/iacocca-to-pen-new-book/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/09/iacocca-to-pen-new-book/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/09/iacocca-to-pen-new-book/#commentsFiled under: ,

Retired Chrysler chairman (and Snoop Dogg homey) Lee Iacocca will be releasing a book in approximately one year, tentatively titled "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?". It's said to cover several topics, among them the state of the American auto industry and the threat that the US manufacturing economy faces from China and India.

Iacocca is said to be writing the book because he "flunked retirement" and "there is too much to be done to sit on the sidelines."  The octogenarian has not been quiet since leaving Chrysler in 1992, having attempted a $20B buyout of the automaker in 1995 (with Kirk Kerkorian and current GM board member Jerry York), along with campaigning for George W. Bush in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004.

[Source: Houston Chronicle]

Iacocca to pen new book, address auto industry originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Jun 2006 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookCEOChairmanChryslerDaimlerChryslerDCXGeorge BushGeorgeBushJerry YorkJerryYorkJohn KerryJohnKerryKerkorianLee IacoccaLeeIacoccaSnoop DoggFri, 09 Jun 2006 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Bush and automakers delay meeting]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/bush-and-automakers-postpone-meeting/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/bush-and-automakers-postpone-meeting/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/bush-and-automakers-postpone-meeting/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bigwigs from DiamlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and General Motors will have to wait for their date with the President. The expected meeting between the Big Three and President George W. Bush is now slated for June 2, moved back from the May 18 date as previously reported. The CEO deligates and the White House would have readers believe that the change in date isn't actually a 'postponement,' but rather the first time a firm date has been set. Regardless of any calendar semantics, the auto summit is expected to cover energy issues, health care and trade.

[Sources: Crain's Business Detroit; The Associated Press]

Bush and automakers delay meeting originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 May 2006 08:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AutomakersBig 3Big ThreeBig3BigThreechryslerenergy crisisEnergyCrisisfordgeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgeorge bushGeorgeBushPresident BushPresidentBushTue, 16 May 2006 08:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Ten states to file suit for tougher CAFE rules]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/02/ten-states-to-file-suit-for-tougher-cafe-rules/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/02/ten-states-to-file-suit-for-tougher-cafe-rules/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/02/ten-states-to-file-suit-for-tougher-cafe-rules/#commentsFiled under:

The New York Times reports that California, New York and eight other states plan to file a suit to force the Bush administration to impose tougher CAFE rules on SUVs, trucks and minivans. The suit claims the federal government's analysis of the environmental impact of the new fuel economy regulations was not sufficiently rigorous. The states also assert that the government did not take into account the impact of gasoline consumption on climate change when formulating the new CAFE standards.

Meanwhile, President Bush is pushing a proposal to raise U.S. fuel economy standards, in a bid to address widespread consumer concern about rising fuel prices.

[Source: New York Times - registration required]

Ten states to file suit for tougher CAFE rules originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 May 2006 16:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cafefuel economygas mileagegas priceGasPricegeorge bushminivanpresident bushsuvtruckTue, 02 May 2006 16:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Bush wants to lift cap on hybrid tax credits]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/26/bush-wants-to-lift-cap-on-hybrid-tax-credits/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/26/bush-wants-to-lift-cap-on-hybrid-tax-credits/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/26/bush-wants-to-lift-cap-on-hybrid-tax-credits/#commentsFiled under: ,

President George Bush believes lifting the current cap on tax credits for hybrids and advanced diesels is one step the government can take to deal with soaring gas prices.

The current tax credit scheme starts to phase out for a given brand of car once 60,000 vehicles are sold. Toyota's fast-selling hybrids will carry the automaker past the current cap by the middle of this year.

The cap has drawn criticism for being an effort to keep foreign automakers from reaping the lion's share of the sales benefits from the tax credit program, because their hybrid programs are considered more advanced than those of their U.S. competitors.

[Source: Automotive News]

Bush wants to lift cap on hybrid tax credits originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Apr 2006 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diesel tax creditgeorge bushhybridhybrid tax creditHybridTaxCreditpresident bushtax creditWed, 26 Apr 2006 08:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Fox News' Geraldo Rivera goes 'nucular' on GM, Ford]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/24/fox-news-geraldo-rivera-goes-nucular-on-gm-ford/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/24/fox-news-geraldo-rivera-goes-nucular-on-gm-ford/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/24/fox-news-geraldo-rivera-goes-nucular-on-gm-ford/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

None other than Geraldo 'Take-Him-Or-Leave-Him' Rivera whipped out a Dubya-style haymaker on General Motors and Ford Wednesday, calling the automakers' present fiscal and public-relations gulag the result of 'whining' management and too many 'crap' cars. Not exactly the prose of florid journalist, or even as carefully measured as George Bush's call for domestics to build more 'relevant' products, Rivera unloads:

Among the lowest rated vehicles on the Consumer Reports list are the once mighty, now tired, Ford Taurus, the homely Pontiac Grand Prix, and the dreadful Chevy Equinox. And unless you live in Kabul or Baghdad, isn't the Hummer the ugliest, dumbest vehicle on the road today?

Rivera gives DaimlerChrysler a 'pass,' a move one might expect given his admission that he owns a 300.

We're not exactly sure what qualifies Mr. Rivera to comment with authority on such issues, and as such, what weight (if any) our readers give to his latest rant is a purely individual thing. Feel free to leave a 'haymaker' or 'kudos' of your own in the comments.

[Sources: GeraldoAtLarge.com and Dave Clegg]

(Tip-top, Jennifer W!)

Fox News' Geraldo Rivera goes 'nucular' on GM, Ford originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Mar 2006 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chevrolet EquinoxChevroletEquinoxChevy EquinoxChevyEquinoxChrysler 300Chrysler300Consumer ReportsConsumerReportsDave CleggDaveCleggFordFord TaurusFordTaurusFox NewsFoxNewsGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGeorge BushGeorgeBushGeraldoGMHummerPontiac Grand PrixPontiacGrandPrixRiveraFri, 24 Mar 2006 11:02:00 EST